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5E low level monster skill checks
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<blockquote data-quote="CapnZapp" data-source="post: 7793634" data-attributes="member: 12731"><p>Not sure what you're saying here.</p><p></p><p>The stealth and hiding rules in 5E are notoriously hazy, vague and wonky. There are no rules at all for giving out distance penalties to Perception.</p><p></p><p>So you'll have to excuse me if I want the number in the Monster Manual stat block to be the relevant figure.</p><p></p><p>Saying "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more" sounds sensible until you realize there are no rules for this. At most a vague go-ahead to slap disadvantage on somebody.</p><p></p><p>What this means to me is that "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more" in practical play translates to "it's up to the DM" which in turn translates to absolving the developers!</p><p></p><p>Why? Because if it doesn't matter if the monster's Stealth score is +3 or +9 (or -3) because the DM is expected to "make it right" through modifiers...</p><p></p><p>...then the only result is to free devs from the burden of doing their job and get it right themselves!</p><p></p><p>So no, you'll have to excuse me, but I'd much rather have workable numbers right out the gate than some nebulous "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more".</p><p></p><p>I pay WotC good money expecting them to do the work and give me the end numbers. Much better than hazy advice would be a stat line saying, for example:</p><p></p><p>Stealth +3 (+9 in swampy terrain)</p><p></p><p>...for some Bog Lurker thing. If you absolutely insist on "core" numbers being pathetically low. (Myself I see zero reason why a Lurker monster can't have its +9 everywhere to keep things simple)</p><p></p><p>I want the devs to commit to a number. That way we can hold them accountable when they get it wrong.</p><p></p><p>Just lazily making it up as you go and then expecting each DM to fix things at their table is NOT why I pay good money to a professional publisher.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CapnZapp, post: 7793634, member: 12731"] Not sure what you're saying here. The stealth and hiding rules in 5E are notoriously hazy, vague and wonky. There are no rules at all for giving out distance penalties to Perception. So you'll have to excuse me if I want the number in the Monster Manual stat block to be the relevant figure. Saying "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more" sounds sensible until you realize there are no rules for this. At most a vague go-ahead to slap disadvantage on somebody. What this means to me is that "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more" in practical play translates to "it's up to the DM" which in turn translates to absolving the developers! Why? Because if it doesn't matter if the monster's Stealth score is +3 or +9 (or -3) because the DM is expected to "make it right" through modifiers... ...then the only result is to free devs from the burden of doing their job and get it right themselves! So no, you'll have to excuse me, but I'd much rather have workable numbers right out the gate than some nebulous "circumstance bonuses need to come into play more". I pay WotC good money expecting them to do the work and give me the end numbers. Much better than hazy advice would be a stat line saying, for example: Stealth +3 (+9 in swampy terrain) ...for some Bog Lurker thing. If you absolutely insist on "core" numbers being pathetically low. (Myself I see zero reason why a Lurker monster can't have its +9 everywhere to keep things simple) I want the devs to commit to a number. That way we can hold them accountable when they get it wrong. Just lazily making it up as you go and then expecting each DM to fix things at their table is NOT why I pay good money to a professional publisher. [/QUOTE]
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